419 scam: "Barr.Sonny" <s.sonny@rediffmail.com> Dear Trustee

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a next of kin scam.
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- s.sonny@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr.Sonny" <s.sonny@rediffmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:26:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear Trustee

FROM THE DESK OF: Barr.Sonny Stclair

COLE HANNINGS CHAMBERS

(Attorney at Law)

Established since 1985

Plot #22 Broad Street

London,E39 6AJ

U. K

E-mail: s.sonny@rediffmail.com

Dear Trustee,

It is a pleasure meeting you at last for i have waited for this golden moment. I am Barr.Sonny Stclair of COLE HANNINGS CHAMBERS London. A few years ago, my late client died in a fatal accident and was buried at the state cemetery, but before his demise he has an account in a bank in Europe with a credit balance of TEN million dollars ($10.000, 000) which has been dormant for a very long time.

All efforts to contact the named beneficiary to late Sir Andrew's estate, with the supplied information proved futile. My good friend, I am contacting you because i want you to assist in claiming this money with me as his next of kin since i have the necessary information/documents that would enable us to do so or i risk losing it to government's treasury as unclaimed.

Please kindly send me your full name,address and your telephone/fax numbers respectively to the above email address to enable us proceed towards the claim of this money.

Awaits your reply.

Regards,

Barr.Sonny Stclair

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam